She could scent the saltwater, hear the waves and the call of the ocean creatures. The power tugged at her senses, had her yearning to fly beneath the waves once more.
He continued, but she could barely hear him over the sound of the sea. “We could purchase a boat, but if we do that, we run the risk of alerting our enemies as to where we are. Either way we’d still need to use your credit card.” He glanced over at her. “I’m sure that redcap has already informed the Black Court that a siren is my companion. It probably wouldn’t be difficult for them to figure out who you are.”
She winced at the mild accusation in his tone. “Then let’s just swim out to where we need to be.” She’d need to go a fair bit away from the shore, which was why she’d thought of the boat.
“Easier said than done. Not all of us grow fins.”
“I’ll be able to help.” She joined him on the veranda, the pull of the ocean even stronger out here than it had been in the room. “I can give you breath.” His brows rose. “You’ve heard of the mermaid legends, where a mermaid gives a sailor breath so that he can live with her beneath the waves?”
“I thought most of them simply drowned the sailors.”
Cassie shook her head. “Most merfolk avoid humans. Humans often would confuse whale song for that of merfolk, and accuse us of luring sailors to their deaths. Merfolk who kill that way are either Black Court, or feel that their territory or the Seeming has been threatened.”
“And the breath you mentioned?”
“Ah. Yes.” She could feel her cheeks heating. She’d never blushed so much in her life until she met this man. “I’ll be able to give you the ability to breathe under water, so don’t worry about that.” It was how she would give him that breath that had her blushing. It gave the term mouth-to-mouth a whole new meaning.
“Then all we have to do is worry about swimming out far enough and making sure we come back while it’s still dark.” He studied her for a moment. “You grow tired after a healing. Will you be all right to swim back?”
She was more worried about him than she was about herself. “Don’t worry about that. We’ll make it back to dry land just fine.” Swimming was like breathing for her. Tugging Oberon behind her would be like playing with the dolphins. If necessary she’d carry him back to shore.
“We have a plan, then.” Oberon reached into his pocket and pulled out a hair band, stepping back into the room. “Give me ten minutes and we can start making our way to the beach.”
“All right.” Cassie went to her dresser and pulled out her bikini, slipping into the bathroom to change into it. She couldn’t go down to the beach naked. She’d planned to strip on the boat before changing to her merform, but this would work too.
Aw, crap. They hadn’t picked Oberon up a suit. He’d either have to swim in his boxer briefs, or…
She gulped.
Oh, she could so get behind that. And in front of it. And just…
Whoa.
She slipped out of the bathroom, gratified when Oberon froze at the sight of her in the turquoise bikini. It was her favorite, a halter style with a bottom that tied at the sides, making it easy to remove when she wished to drop her Seeming.
He cleared his throat and finished braiding his hair. “Are we ready?”
“As we’ll ever be, I suppose.” She grabbed a pair of jeans and a top, sliding them on to cover the bathing suit. It was far too cool out for a dip in the sea. No one would believe they were heading out for an evening swim in this weather. They would, however, believe a newlywed couple heading out to sit on the beach and neck, so she grabbed a couple of towels, aware they’d be using them for more than just sitting on sand. “You don’t have a suit, though.”
“We’ll manage, I’m sure.” His voice had gone husky, his eyes burning silver, like white fire. His gaze was glued to her body, roaming over her like a brand, marking her as his without laying a finger on her. Oberon slid his feet into the gray canvas slip-ons and grabbed his jacket. “Let’s go get my memories back.”
She grabbed her own coat and followed him out the door.
“Oh, Mr. and Mrs. Nerice.” Cassie bit back a curse as Greg, the front desk man, waved them over. “You heading out to eat?”
Cassie and Oberon exchanged a quick glance before she answered. “We’re going to go sit on the beach and watch the moonlight on the waves.”
“Ah. Hold on a moment.” Greg rummaged under the front desk and held out a card. “Just in case.” He winked at them. “Sometimes our honeymooners get, ah, caught up out there and forget the time. If that happens, this code unlocks the front door.”
Oberon took the card, thanking the older man. “This will be much appreciated, thank you.”
“You’re welcome, and have a good time out there. The Pacific is gorgeous this time of day.”
Oberon leaned over and whispered something to the older man, who nodded sagely and whispered something back. He then tipped Greg with a smile before taking hold of Cassie’s arm. “Let’s go, love.”
Cassie trembled, earning herself a confused glance from her bondmate. If he knew how badly she wished he truly meant that, he’d probably run for the hills.
She held her tongue until they were out of the inn’s parking lot, heading around to the back of the house. “What did you ask him?”
“A good, private spot to set up our blankets and be undisturbed.” The glance he sent her was full of amusement. “Needless to say, he was more than willing to aid the newlywed husband in seducing his wife.”
“Oh.”
He smirked. Smirked. She didn’t even think his face could move like that. “We’ll have to make sure we don’t disappoint him.”
She stumbled, stunned at the comment.
The High King merely chuckled and kept right on walking.
Eventually he stopped at a spot hidden from prying eyes by tall grass and dunes. A small lean-to, creaky and barely holding up, had been created out of driftwood. It was the perfect spot to leave their clothing and dive into the sea. Cassie approved. “Not bad.”
“Now we wait for the cover of darkness.” He settled on the sand, his hands clasped between his knees, still managing to look more like a lost prince than a man sitting under a driftwood lean-to. “How long do you think it will take to cure me?”
“Now that we’re here?” She settled next to him, staring at the ocean, its pull so strong she almost dove in. “I think it won’t be nearly as long as I’d originally planned. I think…”
“Cassie?”
She hummed a little, testing the pull of the sea and her powers. “I think my gift has grown since I’ve been away.” She looked back toward him to find he was staring at her, watching her with that same calm silver gaze. But she was learning him now, picking up on how he interacted with her and the world around him. He wasn’t as calm as he seemed. His hands were clasped together a little too tightly, his mouth not as relaxed as it had been when they’d left the inn.
Oberon was nervous as hell and trying desperately to hide it, whether out of habit or something else she wasn’t sure. The High King would have learned early on not to show any weakness, even with those he trusted. From the memories he’d shared with her and the tales told of the ruthlessness of the Tuatha Dè Danaan, she doubted their court had been a warm and fuzzy place to be.
No wonder he blew hot and cold with her. He was still struggling, not only with his lost memories, but the belief that no one in his world could be trusted. “I’ve been out of the sea for a year now, avoiding either coast. Now that we’re back, the pull is ten times stronger than I’ve ever felt it before.”
“Even though it’s not your native ocean, it’s still your element. Working without it would have caused you to use your inner strength in a way you weren’t used to.”
Of course he understood. He probably knew more about how fae powers worked than anyone else
in the world. “Exactly. Honestly, if I hadn’t had that sort of drawback I might not have been strong enough to save Shane and I might not have been able to heal you. For that alone I’m thankful that I was forced to run.”
He smiled faintly. “You are a remarkable woman, Cassandra Nerice. Most people would have left me on that road, or tried their best to pass me off to Jaden or Robin. But you’ve stuck by me and done your best to prove I can trust you.”
She shrugged, embarrassed. “It’s the least I can do for my—” She cut herself off before she could finish that sentence. No way was she going to inform him they were bondmates. She cleared her throat and stared back out over the ocean, unwilling to lie while looking at him. “My king.”
“Mm-hm.” He leaned forward, tilting her chin toward him with gentle fingers. “You promised not to lie to me, Cassie. Don’t start now.”
“I’m not.” As her king, she would do anything to save him.
“If you say so.” And he let her go, let her hope he believed the lie, because when the time came and he remembered everything she was desperately afraid it no longer would be one.
Swimming so far out in the icy waters had chilled him far more than he wanted to admit, but he could barely see the lights of the houses dotting the shores. Here, they ran no risk of being seen. Even the sight of Cassie diving into the sea, skin glistening under the moonlight in that tiny little bathing suit, couldn’t keep him warm.
Cassie dove briefly, and when she came up for air she had dropped her Seeming. The turquoise of her irises had swallowed the white, her pupils wide in the dark night. He felt her tuck something into the waistband of his underwear and realized it must be the bottom half of her bathing suit, something she couldn’t wear with a tail. “We’re not going too deep, but the dark can be frightening for someone who isn’t used to it.”
“And unlike a siren I can’t use sonar to find my way around.”
“Don’t worry. Concentrate on me, and everything will be fine.” She took hold of his arms. “I’ll light up for you, I promise.”
His brows rose. “Excuse me?” That sounded vaguely intriguing, but he doubted she meant it the way it sounded.
Cassie rolled her eyes. “You’ll see.” She smiled reassuringly. “This will sound strange, but don’t bother doing that deep breath thing. I’ll take care of it once we’re under water.” She bit her lip, appearing more nervous about this than he was. “Ready?”
Not even close, but time was running out. Things had gone far too easily for them to remain safe. Oberon needed to be at full strength, his memories intact, before he dealt with Cassie’s issues and the matter of the traitor in his court. “Let’s go.”
With a swish of water, Cassie pulled him under.
And under.
The sensation of floating was pleasant, at least at first. Cassie’s grip on his arms reassured him that he wasn’t alone as the dark waters swirled overhead. The scales on her cheeks, neck, arms and fin began to give off a faint aqua glow, giving just enough light to see the eerie beauty of the woman who dragged him beneath the waves.
But soon the urge to breathe became almost overwhelming, the desire to move, to reach for the air causing him to fight Cassie’s grasp.
When his lungs burned and he thought he might pass out, Cassie did something he hadn’t been expecting.
She kissed him.
Surprised, he opened his mouth, desperate to take a deep breath, even if it meant stealing hers.
Except he didn’t breathe, not in the way he’d expected.
Sharp, searing pain ran down from his armpits almost to his waist. Something fluttered against his skin, tickling him.
The overwhelming urge to gulp in air faded.
Something inside him, some ability he hadn’t realized he had, took notice of what Cassie had done. He’d changed, his body transforming to accept the oxygen in the water. Gills had grown on his sides, close to his lungs, the water flowing over them and feeding the life-giving element straight into his bloodstream while removing the carbon dioxide that would kill him.
Oh. So that was how merfolk breathed. Now that his body understood what to do, he would no longer need Cassie to give him breath. He could transform himself whenever he wished.
What other abilities were lost with my memories? Could he grow wings and fly? Burrow beneath the earth? Turn lead into gold?
He couldn’t wait to find out.
As Cassie started to pull away he reacted on instinct. She wasn’t about to end this kiss before he’d truly begun to enjoy it.
Oberon took hold of her, refusing to allow her to back away. Now that he wasn’t in pain, he was going to savor this. He’d fought his attraction to her, afraid she’d turn out just like Titannia.
She’d proven she wasn’t anything like his faithless ex. Hell, she’d gone bravely into the water, terrified though she’d been, just to help him. He doubted that Titannia would have done the same, even when things had been good between them.
Cassie jolted under his touch, her lips just a breath away from his own. They gazed at one another, Cassie’s expression shocked, her hands gripping his arms almost to the point of pain. Her fingernails had turned into short, sharp claws, but even in her surprise Cassie didn’t break his skin.
Shock turned to longing as Oberon brushed their lips together. He wrapped his arms tightly around her waist, gliding his hands down her sides toward where her hips should be. The feel of her skin gradually becoming cool, supple scales was surprisingly erotic. When she closed her eyes and relaxed against him, allowing him to take her, to be the one guiding them…
Was there any better sensation than a woman’s surrender? Her trust humbled him when little else did. He’d done nothing to earn this from her, yet she granted him the right to hold her, to protect her. He could sense it in the way she gave herself up to him, the way she wrapped herself around him and let him hold her weight. She let him guide them, the kiss slow and sweet as the desire between them built into a bonfire. Her taste filled his senses, burrowed into him until nothing else mattered. Not memories, not crowns, not even treacherous exes. There was nothing but the warm, willing sea nymph in his arms driving him out of his mind.
When he finally pulled his mouth from hers his only thought was how he could take her, make her his so that nothing could take her from his side.
Cassie licked her lips, her eyes still closed, her arms still wrapped tightly around his neck. They were so close he could see the tiny scales on the bridge of her nose, the way they branched out on her forehead like pearl dust. Her eyes finally opened.
They gazed at one another, and he found himself stunned at the sorrow that slowly drove the need from her expression. Cassie loosed her grip on his neck, carefully pulling free of his hold. He wanted desperately to ask her what was wrong, why she’d pulled away, but he had no breath to speak, no way to tell her the last thing he wanted was to be free from her. She caressed his cheek with a look that was remarkably like a good-bye.
Before he could do more than reach for her, Cassie began to sing, and any thought of holding her was driven from his mind as he was bowled over by the savage wave of his life.
Chapter Nine
The magic that made Cassie what she was flowed through her, burst from her as her song took flight, filling the water around them with the sound of Oberon’s life. The dark threads that had wrapped themselves around his memories shattered under the vibration of her voice, freeing the High King from the evil that had threatened to engulf him.
No longer would he be vulnerable to the influences of the Dark Court. Never again would he not know who he was, for Cassie made sure that his harmonies were so strong no other would ever be able to mess with them. He would retain who he was until death took him from this world, and even then his song might influence those around him, living in the world through those whose melodies he touched with his own.<
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She’d never before sung for someone whose song was so long, so complex. The bits and pieces she’d managed to repair were nothing compared to the totality of his melody. Most people she healed had a single melody at their core with minor harmonies that enhanced or detracted from that melody. But Oberon was different. Now that his harmonies had been freed, it was like trying to sing in many voices, creating an a cappella symphony.
Shane’s song had been like a school of fish, swooping and diving in perfect accord, each fish the same yet different. The harmonies had worked together to create the whole of the man whose visions had taken her to the here and now.
Oberon’s song…
Oberon’s song was like all the fish in the sea swam through his melody at the same time. There, a grouper swam counter to a school of colorful damsel fish, while clown fish darted in and out of the brightly colored anemones. Stingrays floated along the bottom, their flaps pushing them along the surface in lazy, gliding movements. A shark swam with lazy, lethal grace past an octopus hiding in the sand.
Time and circumstance had complicated his song, the touch of the gods now visible in his convoluted harmonies. Even his pitch had changed over time, deepening as his power grew. The texture changed, becoming denser as time moved on and more harmonies were added to the whole.
Most amazing of all, at his core his melody was so deep and true it stunned her. Unfettered by the dark harmonies, it resonated inside her, profound and all-consuming.
Her power was strained to the utmost as she tried to keep up, but the complexity of his song finally drove her out. Her vision dimmed as she struggled to hold on to her own sense of self, the song that made her Cassandra Nerice. His music was drowning out her own, buffeting her about in painful waves of sound as his psyche sought to drive her, the invader, out.
Cassie stopped singing. There was nothing more she could do without losing herself in him completely.
Siren's Song: The Gray Court, Book 5 Page 9